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12.15.2015

5YINA Quiescent Winter Beauty Oil (And A Holiday Giveaway!)

It is no secret that winter is not my favorite season, but the 5YINA Quiescent Winter Beauty Oil has me anticipating its arrival this year just so I have a reason to indulge.

Having grown up in a tropical climate, I have always considered the harsh winters here in New York simply as a season to endure until the first blossoms of spring. When I first heard about the concept of living in harmony with the seasons to create a balance between our bodies and the external world, I was immediately intrigued. This philosophy originates from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an ancient form of medicine with over 2500 years of history that is still widely practiced today in China and gaining popularity in the West.

Enter 5YINA, the latest line of holistic skincare products formulated from the marriage of TCM principles with cutting-edge science. Founders and modern-day alchemists Angela Chau and Ervina Wu met when they were both pursuing their Masters at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, and 5YINA was birthed out of a desire to create a cleanly formulated and effective TCM skincare line.

They believe in the seasonal adjustment of skincare (much like with your diet and dressing) and have developed products to help your skin adapt and remain at optimal vitality when in transition between different climates and environments.

(Photo Credit: 5Yina)

Using only the highest grade and sustainably sourced botanicals that are wildcrafted or certified organic, they have developed unique concoctions with traditional Chinese herbs to encapsulate the essence of each season. Their products are free from unnecessary fillers and harmful additives and subject to over 2 years of stringent testing in various environments, so you know they've done their homework. (You can read more about their ingredients here.)

The Quiescent Winter Beauty Oil ($175) is described as a rich and sensual oil suitable for all skin types during the winter months, and it contains a powerhouse formula of over 24 potent bioactives and super-antioxidant seed oils that will deeply nourish and restore your skin. (You can read more about the featured bioactives here.)

I can write an entire blogpost just about how what a beautiful work of art the packaging is - I have the boxes on display at home because it would have been a shame to throw them out. The elegant white alabaster jar is handcrafted and specially designed to preserve the potency of its content, and it is also infinitely recyclable and I plan to repurpose it as a little flower vase.

The rose-gold oil (my favorite color ever) is lightweight and and smells subtlely sweet and earthy. The herbaceous scent, I am told by Ervina, comes from the combination of rare woods (such as jatamansi and agarwood) and their propriety complex of dang shen, gromwell, rhodiola and the like, and it dissipates very quickly. The scent is intended to rejuvenate and restore tranquility, in alignment with the energy of winter.

I prep my face with Josh Rosebrook's Hydrating Accelator and while my skin is still damp, I warm 3-4 drops of Quiescent in my palms and gently press and massage it into my face, neck and décolletage for 30 seconds. The oil is lightweight and absorbs quickly into my skin. (Ervina also advised that it is possible to blend the different seasonal oils or mix this with a water-based serum, but for the purpose of this review I have been using the Quiescent exclusively.)

The first morning after, I noticed immediately that the Quiescent had a brightening effect on my skin and gave my skin a lit-from-within glow. Since the oil is suitable for both day and night use, I have been able to wear it under my sunscreen and make-up. By the end of the week, I noticed that the hyperpigmentation on my cheeks had faded a little and my face was softer and looking more luminous!

On nights my skin need the extra hydration, I swirl my finger over the Divine All Seasons Beauty Balm ($28) and layer it over the Quiescent. When warmed, the balm melts and slides around nicely onto my face, sinking quickly into my skin without feel like I have anything on. I've learnt that a little goes a long way, so don't be too heavy-handed!

The balm is encased in a small alabaster tub and contains a similar blend of the super-antioxidant seed oils, and other exotic ingredients like solomon's seal, schisandra berries, American ginseng and goji berries. The infusion of rose complex also gives it a delicate floral scent, encouraging feelings of positivity and contentment and I find the aroma very calming. This multi-tasker will nourish any area of dry skin on your body, but to be honest it feels so luxurious that I only use it on my face.

Winter represents the most yin in TCM and is regarded as a period of inactivity and introspection. The cold and darkness should encourage us to slow down and be restful to conserve and replenish our qi (energy). My routine of using the Quiescent and Divine Balm has encouraged me to do that, and I am actually looking forward to going through this winter with a renewed mindset.5YINA will be releasing their seasonal hydrolats, masks, and cleansers in 2016. For a limited time, they are offering free standard shipping to all domestic and international offers!

HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY

In the spirit of the holiday season, 5YINA is generously giving away a full-size of their Quiescent Winter beauty oil worth $175 to one lucky reader and you can enter the giveaway through the widget below. The more options you fulfill, the higher your chance of winning. Good luck!

Rules / Guidelines

Giveaway opens Tuesday 15 December 2015 12:00 a.m. EST and ends Sunday 20 December 2015 12:00 a.m. EST for international residents. Entrants must follow the guidelines specified in the instructions above to qualify. A winners will be chosen and contacted on 21 December 2015 via email. If no response is received from the selected winner 48 hours after the announcement, another random winner will be selected. All information provided by entrants is confidential and will not be shared with other third parties.

I'm in North Carolina right now and it's been in the high 60's! Headed to NJ next week though, hopefully it'll feel a little more like Christmas - being with family will help even if the weather doesn't!

I am just like you...packaging is important!! (i know we can't judge the book by its cover but who can refuse beautiful packagings?!?) 5 YINA definitely has very attractive packaging and from you review, I am sure that the content is even better. I do need something to pamper by postpartum skin.

Hi Tricia! I'm not a big fan of winter either, but winter does make me think of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and being able to spend quality time with my family and friends. It also gives you a good excuse to stay home and snuggle with your significant other -- well in my case, that includes our dogs as well! :) I would love to try this oil b/c I've always been intrigued by TCM, since I am Chinese. My cousin is an acupuncturist who specializes in TCM, and I know she would love to this try this oil as well. <3

Great review! Thanks for listing all the ingredients. As a soon to be mom, it's been very important that I find something as close to 100% natural as possible. This year, winter to me means anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby girl and enjoying our last days together as a couple before we become a family of three :)

Wintertime is two extremes to me...snuggle time and outdoor fun! Of course being outdoors does a number on my skin and dries it out something fierce so this set sounds so nourishing to heal my wintertime skin. Thanks!

Winter means taking extra steps to take care of myself as I tend to be happier in the summer naturally. I'm a wife, mom and take care of my mom who is ill so it's very important to be a source of strength and happiness for them. Having a beautiful but quick skin care ritual in the morning and evening is my favorite way to encourage myself, and I would love to use the oil. It doesn't just sound good for the skin but for the soul.

I completely get you Karlie- I am the same in winter! I so respect your dedication to your family and I am sure they appreciate what you do. :) And yes, an oil that is good for the soul- LOVE THAT!! :)